Public Statements

Akin Deeply Concerned over President's Recess Appointments

Press Release

Congressman Todd Akin, a member of the House Budget Committee, authored a letter this week to Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) of the House Judiciary Committee regarding his concern for President Barak Obama's recess appointments. In the letter, Congressman Akin urged Chairman Smith to hold a committee hearing on the constitutionality of recess appointments to a federal agency that has not been appropriated funds by Congress.

In a statement, Rep. Akin said:

"The massive power grab of the Obama Administration to make recess appointments to a duplicative federal agency that has not been vetted by the appropriations process is another occurrence of its disregard of the U.S. Constitution. The push by the President to appoint a head to the CFPB directly defies the Senate and prevents appropriate oversight in the approval of executive appointments.

"It is for these reasons that I strongly urge my colleague, Chairman Smith, to push the Administration to uphold their promise of transparency to the American people. They must explain their rationale and demonstrate the constitutional authority that allows them to undermine Congress in its recess appointments. We owe the American taxpayer, who directly funds every federal agency, greater transparency and a thoughtful and vetted approval process of its leaders."